Secrets. Scandal. Betrayal. In Paradise, pleasure comes at a dangerously high price…
Three couples each receive an exclusive invitation to the fantasy holiday destination of a lifetime…
The host: Martin McKenzie, global billionaire and media mogul. Charismatic, powerful and always gets what he wants.
The location: A breathtakingly beautiful undiscovered island, nestled in the Aegean Sea. Private, secluded and not quite as it seems.
The details: Seven days of pure hedonism, five-star luxury tailored to every desire, also includes… secrets, lies, and infidelity.
As the guests begin to enjoy everything the luxury island has to offer, cracks begin to surface between the three couples. But that is not all. Someone is watching them. When they discover the truth – it will be explosive in more ways than they can ever imagine.
A jaw-dropping, absorbing and spectacular blockbuster of a novel. THE beach read of the summer you won’t want to be without.
Three couples each receive an exclusive invitation to the fantasy holiday destination of a lifetime…
The host: Martin McKenzie, global billionaire and media mogul. Charismatic, powerful and always gets what he wants.
The location: A breathtakingly beautiful undiscovered island, nestled in the Aegean Sea. Private, secluded and not quite as it seems.
The details: Seven days of pure hedonism, five-star luxury tailored to every desire, also includes… secrets, lies, and infidelity.
As the guests begin to enjoy everything the luxury island has to offer, cracks begin to surface between the three couples. But that is not all. Someone is watching them. When they discover the truth – it will be explosive in more ways than they can ever imagine.
A jaw-dropping, absorbing and spectacular blockbuster of a novel. THE beach read of the summer you won’t want to be without.
You’re really not playing fair you know, Bookouture! It was only a few days ago when I decided to fill my kindle holiday folder with the books from Nigel May, and now you come up with another “beach read of the summer” that I’m not going to be able to resist.
Pleasure Island by Anna-Lou Weatherley is published tomorrow (31st July) for kindle and in paperback. And, as if you won’t be tempted enough by the description, the kindle version is just 99p at the time of writing.
I’m delighted to welcome Anna-Lou to Being Anne, to tell us more about her characters and influences. Welcome, Anna-Lou!
I’m fascinated by the human condition and what makes people psychologically tick, how flawed we all are as a race and the multi-facets we all have. I enjoy developing and writing strong characters because they possess more to them, they’re three-dimensional, although weak characters can often read the strongest sometimes because their flaws are so dislikeable and (human) which makes them quite colourful and interesting to bring to life. We all have strengths and weaknesses and redeeming features though some more than others!
I have been surrounded by strong, colourful characters all my life, my mother, sister, grandmother, family and friends, and I admire people with spirit, even if they’re not perfect (like all of us!), I’m not too fond of mediocrity. Strength doesn’t have to be harsh, it can be quiet in a character, but I do love writing feisty women with strong opinions who take no crap, largely because they’re fun to write. I’ve met many women like this and admire them, women who’re true to themselves and don’t need the approval of others to know their own worth. But I always try to give them a little vulnerability because that’s what makes people human and fallible and ultimately sympathetic characters to read.
I have been surrounded by strong, colourful characters all my life, my mother, sister, grandmother, family and friends, and I admire people with spirit, even if they’re not perfect (like all of us!), I’m not too fond of mediocrity. Strength doesn’t have to be harsh, it can be quiet in a character, but I do love writing feisty women with strong opinions who take no crap, largely because they’re fun to write. I’ve met many women like this and admire them, women who’re true to themselves and don’t need the approval of others to know their own worth. But I always try to give them a little vulnerability because that’s what makes people human and fallible and ultimately sympathetic characters to read.
As a journalist I have met and interviewed some truly fabulous, inspirational people and some god-awful one’s too which I think has helped in my character creations. Being a journalist you do get to connect with a diverse range of people from all walks of life, which is good grounding. It also made it easier for me, the transition into becoming an author. Journalism is a different discipline to writing a novel but it helps with the editing process (you are less precious when you’re a journalist and more thick skinned when cutting copy I think), I’m an avid fact checker as well which I attribute to my journo roots, you understand deadlines and the discipline you need to write too, which helps. Plus I think perhaps it gives you a little more of an advantage with getting people to look at your work, though not always and certainly not exclusively.
Martina Cole was a big influence on me wanting to venture into writing novels. It was after reading one of her titles I decided to give the idea I had for my first novel, Chelsea Wives, a go and when I sent it to her agent and they signed me it was a dream come true – in fact it still hasn’t properly sunk in! I love Martina’s no-nonsene, flawed, love to hate type characters and the gritty realism she writes about. She’s an unpretentious writer, simplistic, and by that I mean in the best sense; she makes it look so effortless which is a great skill. I’d love to meet her one day, she looks like you could have a good drink and a laugh with.
I’ve always been a big fan of Daphne Du Maurier too; my mum got me onto her – she’s well-read is my mum – and I love the dark twists she created in all of her novels. She sounded like a strong woman too from what I’ve read about her, almost ahead of her time somehow. I love her short stories and hope one day to write a book of them myself too.
Thanks Anna-Lou! And, as I haven’t yet read your lovely-sounding book (yet!), I think it’d be good to end with some quotes from blogging friends who have. Sounds totally irresistible!
Martina Cole was a big influence on me wanting to venture into writing novels. It was after reading one of her titles I decided to give the idea I had for my first novel, Chelsea Wives, a go and when I sent it to her agent and they signed me it was a dream come true – in fact it still hasn’t properly sunk in! I love Martina’s no-nonsene, flawed, love to hate type characters and the gritty realism she writes about. She’s an unpretentious writer, simplistic, and by that I mean in the best sense; she makes it look so effortless which is a great skill. I’d love to meet her one day, she looks like you could have a good drink and a laugh with.
I’ve always been a big fan of Daphne Du Maurier too; my mum got me onto her – she’s well-read is my mum – and I love the dark twists she created in all of her novels. She sounded like a strong woman too from what I’ve read about her, almost ahead of her time somehow. I love her short stories and hope one day to write a book of them myself too.
Thanks Anna-Lou! And, as I haven’t yet read your lovely-sounding book (yet!), I think it’d be good to end with some quotes from blogging friends who have. Sounds totally irresistible!
‘Easily one of the best books I have read this year…a fast paced, engaging read, by an exceptionally talented author. Pleasure Island is a spectacular and intriguing story that is perfect summer reading.’ Rachel’s Random Reads
‘Pleasure Island was simply stunning and has left me with a huge book hangover that will take a considerable amount of time to cure. It has an incredible pace packed full of twists and turns full of manipulation and surprises…This is THE Summer read of 2015 go and buy it now.’ Shaz’s Book Blog
‘This is a fast-paced, action packed read that held my attention the whole way through. Fans of Tasmina Perry and Rebecca Chance will love this book, it is full of drama, revenge, twists and turns’ Rea’s Book Reviews
‘Pleasure Island is one of those rare things: a faultless novel…pure, unadulterated excitement…I loved Pleasure Island so much that I want to read it again, and I am already envious of those who have it to read.’ Book Addict Shaun
Anna-Lou began her career as a dancer but a moped accident in Ibiza put paid to those aspirations and so she went back to her first and one true love – writing! She re-trained as a journalist, specialising mainly in women’s interest and celebrity, becoming the Editor of J-17 and Smash Hits as well as writing for a host of women’s magazines.
Anna-Lou has written two other Adult Fiction titles – Vengeful Wives and Wicked Wives, both published by Avon in the UK and Bookouture in the US and Canada.
Anna- Lou has a Facebook author page, and can also be found on Twitter.
There goes my bank balance again. Thanks for introducing a new to me author.